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Poster for The Woodsman

The Woodsman

Seen it?

2004 | 87 min | Drama, Crime

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Cape Fear, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 27 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

After twelve years in prison, Walter returns home. His family has abandoned him, save for his brother-in-law. Few know he's a sex offender and pedophile. Walter finds an apartment and is regularly visited by his parole officer. He gets a job at a lumber mill and starts seeing a coworker. Then his new world begins to unravel; as his past becomes known, he strikes up a high-risk friendship with a young girl and realizes that a man loitering near a schoolyard is a child molester prowling for his next victim.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.8 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Nominated for 1 Cannes award and 3 Independent Spirit Awards.

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $5 million worldwide on a $4 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 59K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Nicole Kassell

  • Kevin BaconWalter
  • David Alan GrierBob
  • Kyra SedgwickVicki
  • EveMary-Kay
  • Benjamin BrattCarlos
  • Carlos LeonPedro
  • Michael ShannonRosen
  • Nicole GibsonGirl with Red Ball
  • Kevin RiceCandy
  • Yasiin BeySgt. Lucas